SKYLARK 'Aces-In-A-Day'

Welcome to the 'Aces-in-a-Day' page by David 'Skylark' Phillips. The page will represent 'Aces-In-A-Day" pilots from many WWII Theatres of Operations and will include Mustangs, Thunderbolts, Lighnings, P40s, Hellcats, Wildcats and Corsairs. To download any of the creations, just click on the relevant picture or link. 16/April/2011. To see the latest additions to this page, look for the icon.

	This skin represents Grumman F4F-3 "Wildcat" 'F-15', BuNo 4031, as flown by Lt. Edward "Butch" O'Hare of VF-3 USS Lexington during the Battle of Bougainville. Circa: February 20th 1942. On this date, late in the afternoon, Lt."Butch" O'Hare and his wingman Lt. Dufilho were the only Grumman fighters flying Patrol Cap over Task Force 11. At 1705, 8 Japanese G4M1"Betty" bombers made an attack run with the USS Lexington as their target. Both O'Hare and Dufilho having the altitude advantage rolled into their attack. Unfortunately, Lt. Dufilho's guns would not fire so he was forced to pull out of the fight. Alone Lt."Butch O'Hare made 3 fast and furious attacks on the Mitsubishi bombers and destroyed 5 with a 6th claimed as a probable. His last attack lead him into the defensive fire of Task Force 11's combined anti-aircraft fire. For his actions, Lt.Edward "Butch" O'Hare was credited with 5 confirmed victories and recieved the Medal of Honor. For his historic lone fight against the Japanese formation Lt. O'Hare became the first US Navy's first Pacific "Ace-In-A-Day". Butch O'Hare gained two more kills in a F6F Hellcat but was killed in action in November 1943. This HR skin was created by Skylark, based on an original work by Captain Kurt - Col. Gibbon - DeanH - Moggy - Claudio - Woolfman. (P-47C Slot)
	P51D-10-NA "PZ-H/Bar" of the 352nd.F.G, 486th.F.S. Bodney, England (Circa:April,1945) Capt.Edwin L.Heller born December 5th, 1918 Philadelphia joined the 352nd.FG in the fall of 1943. His first operational career started at the controls of P-47D-10 and then two Mustangs. He is credited with being the leading ground strafing ace of the 352nd.FG. with a total of 16.5 kills. He was also successful in aerial combats scoring 5.5 victories. A veteran of 520 combat hours in the ETO during the course of two tours. On April 24th.1944 flying P51-B Mustang then Lt.Heller was credited with the destruction of 6-Me110, 1-unidentified E/A on the ground plus 5 other Me110 as damaged while strafing Crailsheim-Bokingen airfield. For this action Heller was awarded the Distinquished Service Cross. One year later on 16th April 1945, flying this aircraft P51-D 44-14696, now Capt.Heller is again credited with the destruction of a further 3-Fw109s, 2-Ju87s, 1-Me109 and an unidentified trainer while strafing the German airbase Ganacker. As with the previous mission Capt.Heller was awarded the Silver Star. This HR skin was created by Skylark, based on an original work by Chompy - Salty. (P-51D Slot)
	This skin represents "QP-A.", a P-51D-20-NA, SN 44-72251, flown by Lt.Col.Sidney Sterling Woods, Deputy Commander of the 4th FG, 8th.A.F. England, the several days after his Ace-in-A-Day accomplishment on March 22, 1945. While leading 'A' Group on an escort mission of B-17s to the Ruhland Germany, Lt.Col.Woods was credited with the destruction of 5 Fw-190's over Furstenwalde and Eggersdorf. Lt.Col.Woods' Mustang shows the two victories he scored while in the Pacific and six air victories achieved in the ETO. Before joining the 4th Fighter Group he also served with both the 479th. and 355th. Fighter Groups. On April 16, 1945, on his 180th mission, Lt.Col.Sidney S.Woods was shot down by flak and for the remaining 13 days of the war became a guest for the Luftwaffe. This HR skin was created by Skylark, based on an original work by Chompy - Salty. (P-51D Slot)
	This skin represents "Betty E.", a P-51D-20-NA, SN 44-72374, flown by Lt.Col.Wayne K. Blickenstaff, Group Leader of the 353th FG, 8th.A.F. England, the next day after his Ace-in-A-Day accomplishment on March 24, 1945. While leading 'C' Group which comprised of both the 350th. and 352nd. FS of the 353rd. FG. Lt.Col.Blickenstaff, patrolling between the Rheine River and Dummer Lake Germany, encountered 15+ Focke Wulf 190s with 15+ Messerschmitt 109s acting as top cover. During this engagement Blickenstaff was credited with 2-Me109s and 3-Fw190s. The last two 190s were destroyed by Blickenstaff with only one gun in his Mustang still operational. Apparently, Lt.Col.Blickenstaff was highly complimentary regarding the armor-piercing incendiary ammunition that he used. "I am duly impressed by the A.P.I. tracer ammunition. Although the first burst probably warns the enemy pilot, it tends to confuse and excite him, so that he takes immediate evasive action and frequently does the wrong thing. This ammunition enables one to establish the proper line of flight, which is half the battle." Lt.Col.Wayne K. Blickenstaff was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership and marksmanship exhibited during this and other missions of the ETO. This HR skin was created by Skylark, based on an original work by Chompy - Salty. (P-51D Slot)
	This skin represents "Snooks 5th", a P-51F-6D-10, SN 44-14841, flown by Capt. William Shomo, Commanding Officer of the 71st TRG, 82nd TRS, 5th.AF South Pacific based near Leyte, Philippines, circa January 1945. The P-51F-6D was the Photo Reconnaissance version of the P-51D Mustang equipped with two oblique mounted cameras. This State-of-the-Art aircraft was designed to fight it's way into the target area, take pre-strike or post-strike photos and bring those valuable photos home. It was in this F-6D Mustang "Snooks 5th" that Captain Shomo scored his first victory, a 'Val' dive-bomber, over Tuguegarao airbase on January 10th.1945. On the very next morning, January 11th. 1945, Capt.Shomo, conducting a Reccon mission over Atarri & Laoag airodromes in northern Luzon was credited with the destruction of seven enemy aircraft. The confirmed tally was 6 Kawasaki Ki61 Hein Tony fighters and 1 Mitsubishi G4M Betty bomber. With this outstanding action Capt.William Shomo joined the elite 'Aces-In-A-Day' ranks and was awarded the Medal of Honor '. He was to recieve the second only such medal awarded to a Mustang pilot during World War II. This HR skin was created by Skylark, based on an original work by Chompy - Salty. (P-51D Slot)
	This skin represents "11", a P-47D (sud-type & serial number unknown), flown by Capt. Herschel 'Herky' Green, Commander of the 317th FS, 325th FG, 15th.AF based at Celone, Italy, circa February 1944. This was the personal mount of Capt. Green from January to September of 1944. Capt. Green was not only the ranking P47 ace in-theatre but also was the AAF's top scoring pilot of the MTO with a total of 18 victories. His Ace-In-A-Day mission came on January 30, 1944 in a borrowed P-47 named "The Star of Altoona". On this early morning mission Capt. Green with 61 other P-47s of the 325thFG. crossed the Adriatic Sea at wave top height with the objective of catching the Luftwaffe in the Villaroba area on the ground. Climbing to 18,000' once over the north Italian coastline the pilots of the 325th, now driving, engaged 20+ Me109s, 12+ Macchi 202s, several Focke-Wulf 190s, a couple of Ju88s that were climbing to meet them and a dozen Ju52s transports that were trying to escape the attackers. During the 35 minute confrontation Capt. Green was credited with 4 Ju52s, 1 Macchi 202 and a Ju88. At the end of this airbattle the 325th FG left behind 38 enemy aircrft destroyed and 6 probables with a loss of only 2 P-47s. For his day's work Capt. Herschel Green was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. This HR skin was created by Skylark, based on an original work by Chompy. (P-47C Slot)
	This aircraft represents "Fiery Ginger III", a P-47D-2-RE, SN 42-8145, flown by Lt. Col.Neel Ernest Kearby, Commanding Officer of the 348th FG, 5th.AF South Pacific based near Port Moresby, New Guinea, circa October 1943. It was in this Thunderbolt on October 11, 1943 that Lt.Col.Kearby won the Medal of Honor and became an 'Ace in a Day'. On a mission over the Japanese held airbase Wewak, Kearby and the pilots of the 341st.FS. and the 342ndFS. engaged 30+ both Japanese Army Oscars and Tonys fighters commanded by Lt.Col. Tamiya Teranishi and at least other 12 Japanese Bombers. During this engagment Lt.Col.Kearby accounted for 6 enemy fighters; 4 Nakajima Ki43 Oscars & 2 Kawasaki Ki61 Tonys, one of which was undoubtedly Lt.Col. Teranishi. For this action Lt.Col.N.E.Kearby was awarded the Medal of Honor January 6th.1944. This HR skin was created by Skylark, based on an original work by Chompy. (P-47C Slot)